BMW is the latest manufacturer to acknowledge the growing influence of the Chinese automotive market on the industry as a whole. The company's California-based DesignworksUSA has announced that it will open a new studio in Shanghai in the second half of this year. According to the automaker, the new facility will play a role in contributing to new designs for each of its brands, including BMW, Mini and Rolls-Royce, in the future as it collaborates with the other DesignworksUSA studios around the world. The design think tanks are based in Singapore, Munich and Los Angeles.

BMW says it expects China to become the third-largest market for its products in the near future, and that the People's Republic has been responsible for its single largest percent growth in sales over the past few months. Having a dedicated design studio in Shanghai will likely help the automaker custom tailor designs to Chinese buyers. Hit the jump for the full press release.